Water column for steam boilers



May 17, 1932. G. w. STETSON 1,859,009

WATER COLUMN FOR STEAM BOILERS Filed July 5, 1927 Patented May 17, 1932I 1,859,009

GEORGE W. STETSON, OF RING-HAM, MASSACHUSETTS WATER COLUMN FOR STEAMBOILERS Application filed July 5, 1927. Serial No. 203,487.

The present invention relates to water 001- It will be evident that ifso desired the lower umns for steam boilers, and more particusealingflange may be slipped over the larly to a water column of this typeembodycylinder prior to the attachment of the flange ing a high and lowwater alarm. connections to 35, inclusive. Supported The object of thepresent invention is to within the column cylinder and capable ofprovide a simple and eflicient form of high rising and falling movementswith relation and low water alarm which is capable of satthereto areupper and lower buckets or floats isfactory and long-continued operationunand &2, respectively. These buckets have der relatively high pressureconditions. substantially the same cubicle capacity, and

With this object in view, a feature of the are therefore capable ofholding equal volinvention contemplates the provision of two umes ofwater, but the bucket 42 is heavier open, water-filled floats ofdissimilar weight than the bucket 40 by an amount which apconnected witha whistle or equivalent alarm pronimates one-half the weight of thewater device in such a manner that raising or lowercontained in eachbucket. From this it will 16 ing of the water level beyond predeterminedbe evident that if both buckets are filled with limits permits theoperation of the whistle. water and freely suspended at opposite ends Afurther feature of the invention consists of a centrally pivoted lever,the weight of the in the provision of a column cylinder of seambucket 42will cause depression of that side less steel integrally closed at oneend, and of the lever, lowering the bucket 42 and elehaving threaded andwelded connections for vating the bucket 4:0. The increase of weightattachment to the boiler and connection with of the bucket 42 may beaccomplished conthe water glass, and other auxiliary devices. venientlyby an increased bottom thickness, The accompanying drawing illustratesan as indicated by 4-4, or by making the buckets elevation partially insection of a water 001- identical and weighting the bucket 42 with 25umn embodying the improved features of the solid material. Each bucketis supported by present invention. 7 a vertical rod, indicated at 50 and52, re-

As shown in the illustrated embodiment of spectively, the rods beingconnected to opthe invention, the column comprises a drawn posite endsof a supporting lever 54 pivoted steel tube 12 with an integrallyclosed, hemicentrally at 56. The pivot 56 is conveniently sphericalbottom portion 14, capable of with mounted in a trunnion 58 threadedinto the standing the relatively high internal presflange 21 at 60. Eachof the supporting rods sures to which the column is subjected. The 50and 52 passes downwardly through the upper end of the column cylinder isprocover of the float or bucket, and is threaded vided with anoutwardly-turned flange 18, at'its lower end into a boss 62 projectinginwhich isengaged and clamped between sealwardly from the wall of thebucket. This ing flanges 20 and 21 by a series of connectingconstruction steadies the floats and serves to bolts 22. The upper orsolid flange 21 is promaintain them in a vertical position without videdwith a whistle 24:, of conventional type, the necessity for additionalsupport at the threaded into an opening 25 formed in the opposite side.Each of the buckets is nor- 40 flange. Connected to the column cylinder12 mally completely filled with water, and is at opposite ends are twoflange connections provided with a cover portion 6 having an 30 and 31,which are threaded into the cylopening 66 formed at the lowermostporinder at 32 and integrally united therewith tion of the cover tocollect and direct water by welded areas 33. In a similar manner, a ofcondensation into the interior of the floats,

45 second seriesof flange connections 34: and 35 and compensate for anyunusual losses which are connected to the opposite side of the colmayoccur during operation or idle periods. umn cylinder. Thefirst-mentioned connecl/Vhile the water level in the column remainstions may serve for attachment of the column within normal operatinglimits, which are to the boiler, and the second set of connectionsdesignated approximately by the dot-and- 50 for attachment of a gageglass mounting. dash lines a and b, respectively, the upper water-filledfloat is suspended in steam and the lower water-filled float iscompletely submerged below the Water level. Under these conditions, thesubmergence of the lower float balances the weight of the water therein,and the weight of the ueper water-filled floai exceeds the weight of thelower float by an amount equal to one-half the weight of the watercontained therein, it being recalled in this connection that the weightof the lower float exceeds the weight of the upper float by one-half theweight of the water load when both floats are freely suspended. Underthese normal operating conditions, the upper float maintains thesupporting lever 54 in such a position that a valve connected to thelever at one side of the fulcrum remains closed and prevents theoperation of the whistle. In this connection it will be evident from thedrawing that the valve 70 comprises merely a needle operating in aseparable valve seat 72 which is threaded in the flange 21 beneath thewhistle. Rising of the water level to cause a partial submergence of theupper float gradually decreases the effective weight of the upper floatuntil complete submergence of the float creates a condition in which theeffective Weight of the lower float exceeds that of the upper float byan amount which approximates one-half the water load. \Vhen the waterlevel rises sufficiently to cause the effective weight of the lowerfloat to exceed that of the upper float by an amount sutflcient to movethe supporting lever and open the valve, the whistle operates. Underordinary conditions the operation of the whistle will occur prior tocomplete submergence of the upper float. In a like manner, lowering ofthe water level to the line (Z, or thereabouts, increases the effectiveweight of the lower float to a point where this weight exceeds theeffective weight of the upper float, and operates the whistle valve inthe manner described for the high water level.

It will be evident that during the major portion of the operation, thelower float is maintained completely submerged and filled with waterthrough the opening 66. Ihe upper float is also maintained full throughthe opening 66 in the cover, water of condensation dropping directlythereon from the supporting hanger 58 which may be provided with a tit80, as indicated. Owing to the fact that the cover flange 21 is normallycooler than the remainder of the apparatus through conduction of heat,the hanger connected directly therewith is also cooler, and acts as amedium together with the under portion of the cover for causingcondensation. Actual practice has demonstrated that condensate droppingupon the cover is ample to maintain the upper float full of water duringlong-continued operation. In addition to collecting and directingcondensate into the interior of the float, the cover portions on bothfloats serve to prevent spillage and removal of water therefrom duringblow-down of the column.

By virtue of this construction, relatively thin, light floats may beemployed inasmuch as these floats are not subjected to dissimilarinternal and external pressures. Furthermore, due to this equalizing ofthe pressure upon opposite sides of the floats, the susceptibility todamage and the probability of leakage under long-continued and arduousoperation is substantially removed. In addition, the effectivedifference in weight suffioient to operate the alarm valve is createdwithout normally placing a considerable weight upon the supporting partsof the apparatus. As contrasted with this, if it is attempted to makethe operating members of solid material, the size of the floats, due tothe necessity of displacing sufficient water to guarantee operation ofthe alarm, compels the employment of relatively heavy weights whichimpose a substantial strain, friction and wear upon the supporting partsof the apparatus, and require these parts to be relatively heavy andsluggish in their operation.

From the foregoing it will be evident to those skilled in the art thatan exceedingly simple and compact form of apparatus is provided foraccomplishing the desired result. The supporting of the individualfloats by single rods located at opposite ends of a single lever permitsthe relative movement of the two floats without interference,

and causes operation of the alarm under high I and low water conditionswith an exceedingly simple and compact mechanism with a minimum offriction.

WVhat is claimed is:

1. A water column for steam boilers comprising a column cylinder, upperand lower floats of equal cubic capacity within the cylinder, the lowerfloat being heavier than the upper float by an amount approximatingone-half the weight of water contained in each float, a centrallypivoted lever at the upper portion of the column, and connectionsbetween each float and one end of the lever to cause movement of thelever upon rising and falling of the water level beyond predeterminedlimits.

2. A high and low water level indicator comprising a column, floats ofequal displacement and with a constant and predetermined dissimilarityin weight supported in the column at different levels, a pivoted lever,a high and low water alarm connected with the lever, and means forsuspending the floats from opposite ends of the lever to provide equalmoment arms for the operation of the lever, and produce an operatingmovement of the lever about its pivot upon undue rise or fall of thewater level within the column.

3. A high and low water level indicator comprisin a column, openwater-filled floats of equal displacement and with a constant andpredetermined difference in weight supported at difi'erent levels in thecolumn, a pivoted lever, a high and low water alarm connected with thelever, and means for suspending the floats from opposite ends of thelever to provide equal moment arms and produce an operating movement ofthe lever upon undue rise or fall of the water level.

GEORGE W. STETSON.

